THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

96-99: Flor and Florissa
380
© 2009 Max Wickert
Gerard treated the queen and her ladies with much honor. She surrendered the tower treasure to him. It was so rich
that Gerard at once thought: “Now I have the means to destroy Charles and to drive him from France.” He let slip
some words that showed how deep a grudge he still held against the emperor.
That day the Pope was visiting Reggio and was requested to baptize the ladies. In answer to his queries, Almont’s
queen said that her father was King Gulias of Damascus, Lord of Syria, Armenia, and Persia, and that she had
secretly desired baptism ever since she heard of the Christian faith in Jerusalem. Thereupon the Pope made her
renounce Mohammed and baptized her under the Christian name of Florissa. After the ceremony, the arrival of
Prince Flor of Hungary was announced. Charlemagne had promised to crown him, since his father had just been
killed in Aspramont. At the first sight of Florissa, Flor fell in love with her and was betrothed to her that very day.
Charlemagne now decreed that none of his subjects should leave Calabria without his permission until he himself did
so. Four days later he sent Druon to Reggio to summon the Pope and Gerard to council. They agreed readily to come.
Meanwhile Charles had been assessing his losses. He discovered that eighty-five thousand men had fallen in this war,
and felt much impoverished by this great loss of men. He ordered the Pope to hold a great mass in memory of these
dead at the Calabrian abbey of Saint-Simon.
When Gerard arrived at Charles’s camp, with Flor and Florissa, all were astonished by his riches and her beauty.
She was greeted courteously by Duke Namo, who reminded her that he was the ambassador who had come to Anglant
and whom Balant had so courteously entertained. She was then presented to Charles, who was delighted to hear of her
betrothal to Flor. They were just sitting down to supper, when she recognized Balant. “Are you baptized, too, then?”
she cried; and he replied: “I am sorry I waited so long, for if I had not, neither my son nor many of my people would
have been slain.” After the banquet, Charlemagne crowned Flor as King of Hungary and confirmed Florissa as his
queen.
On the morrow, the coronation and marriage were celebrated with great solemnity. All Florissa’s attendant ladies were
given husbands, and Flor was amply endowed with land and honors by both Charlemagne and Duke Gerard.
Afterwards, Charlemagne confirmed Gerard son Guiscard as Lord of Apulia and Calabria and appointed him his
counselor and cupbearer. He also confirmed Gerard’s younger son, Miles, as Lord of Taranto and of all lands
between Otranto and Brindisi. He concluded by amply endowing countless gentlemen who had served him in the war
and then gave them leave to return to their own domains.
Departure from Aspramont
100
Charles and the Pope, with many of the great lords, remained in the camp. They were gathered in
Charles’s pavilion, when Duke Gerard turned to Charles and declared in the presence of all: “Most
mighty and puissant Lord Charles, from the day that arrived to oppose King Anglant until now, we
have acknowledged you as master and, by your grace, you have done me great honor. But from now